Controlling Interfacial Recombination in Aqueous Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells by Octadecyltrichlorosilane Surface Treatment1. Issue 27 (23rd May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dong, Cunku; Xiang, Wanchun; Huang, Fuzhi; Fu, Dongchuan; Huang, Wenchao; Bach, Udo; Cheng, Yi‐Bing; Li, Xin; Spiccia, Leone
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 53:Issue 27(2014)
• Page Start: 6933
• Page End: 6937
• Publication Date: 2014-05-23
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201400723
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>A general and convenient strategy is proposed for enhancing photovoltaic performance of aqueous dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) through the surface modification of titania using an organic alkyl silane. Introduction of octadecyltrichlorosilane on the surface of dyed titania photoanode as an organic barrier layer leads to the efficient suppression of electron recombination with oxidized cobalt species by restricting access of the cobalt redox couple to the titania surface. The champion ODTS‐treated aqueous DSCs (0.25 m<sc>M</sc> ODTS in hexane for 5 min) exhibit a <italic>V</italic>_oc of 821±4 mV and <italic>J</italic>_sc of 10.17±0.21 mA cm⁻², yielding a record PCE of 5.64±0.10 %. This surface treatment thus serves as a promising post‐dye strategy for improving the photovoltaic performance of other aqueous DSCs.</p> </abstract>